Health Insurers Face Headwinds as Medicare Advantage Payments Held Flat Despite Lobbying

• Health insurance stocks fell sharply as US regulators didn’t boost Medicare Advantage payments as expected • This signals a break from past practice of typically increasing rates from initial proposals • Move shows Biden administration taking tougher stance amid industry lobbying • Lack of increase reinforces challenging environment for health insurers • America's Health Insurance Plans says decision will put more pressure on plans